Johnson Controls Inc. is poised to become the world’s leading commercial air conditioning provider.

Officials from JCI and Hitachi announced they’ve signed a non-binding agreement in which Johnson Controls has agreed to purchase a majority ownership stake in Hitachi Appliances’ global air conditioning business.

The proposed deal calls for JCI to acquire 60 percent of the air conditioning division. No financial terms were disclosed.

The join venture is expected to begin in 2014, subject to the approval of the boards of both companies, a definitive agreement on terms and required approvals from regulators, according to a news release.

“The addition of these capabilities adds key technologies to our product portfolio, JCI President and CEO James Molinaroli said in a news release. “Combined with our existing $15 billion building technologies and services business, this investment positions Johnson Controls as the world’s largest commercial air conditioning provider.”

JCI, a global multi-industrial company with manufacturing facilities in Holland, already is one of the leading suppliers of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, building controls, refrigeration and security systems for commercial use.

It appears to be the start of a budding relationship between the companies.

“We look forward to exploring further opportunities to collaborate with Johnson Controls and Hitachi’s broad-building-solution business capitalizing on IT-related technologies,” Hitachi Ltd. President Hiroaki Nakanishi said in a news release.